Federer improved his career mark against Del Potro to 8-2. One of the losses came at the U.S. Open final in 2009, when Del Potro won in five sets to end Federer's 40-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows.

Del Potro didn't help himself by double-faulting on set point to hand Federer the opening set.

In the semifinals, Federer will play the winner of the later match between No. 2 Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych